Tiree’s Got the X Factor

The Macdonald Brothers Launch The 2011 Tiree Music Festival

X Factor finalists, The MacDonald Brothers, made waves on the Hebridean Isle of Tiree recently, swapping singing for surfing as part of the official launch for this year’s Tiree Music Festival (TMF).

Flying to the western isle of Tiree, the brothers visited pupils at Tiree High School before taking to the waves and sampling the island’s world famous surf.

The visit marked the launch of 2011’s Tiree Music Festival with tickets available for purchase. The talent show duo – Craig and Brian MacDonald – are one of the acts confirmed for the much-anticipated two-day festival which takes place on Tiree on Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 July and celebrates Scottish music and culture.

Craig MacDonald enjoyed his surfing experience and is looking forward to their summer visit to Tiree: “We are just back from the Caribbean and we thought we had gone back there after seeing the stunning white sand beaches on Tiree! We can’t wait to return in July to perform at TMF.”

Other acts confirmed for 2011’s Tiree Music Festival include legendary Celtic-rockers Wolfstone, Pearl & the Puppets, new Gaelic sensation Manran and a special homecoming performance from Tiree’s own international touring act, Skerryvore. Further acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

TMF organiser Daniel Gillespie believes this year’s TMF is a not-to-be-missed music event: “TMF is the ultimate weekend away for music lovers and will celebrate Scotland’s rich and diverse music scene. With performances from one of the greatest Celtic-Rock groups in Wolfstone, to the very best in Scottish-Country, Brian Hughes, we aim to create the musical weekend from heaven in one of Scotland’s most stunning locations.”
Wolfstone’s founder and fiddler, Duncan Chisholm adds: “We are delighted to be playing in Tiree for the first time and especially at the Tiree Music Festival. It is many years since we have travelled to the Western Isles to perform but we have many great memories of playing in Barra and the Uists. We can’t wait to be in Tiree in July.”

With transport links to Tiree from Glasgow and Oban, the Tiree Music Festival is the ideal opportunity for a weekend getaway to the western isles. This year’s event coincides with Flybe’s new Sunday service from Glasgow to Tiree. For further information log on to www.flybe.com

Last year, some of the biggest names from Scotland and Ireland’s traditional music scene performed at the Tiree Music Festival’s sell-out event including international chart topper, Sandi Thom.

Suitable for all ages, this year’s Tiree Music Festival will build on the success of the 2010 debut festival which was an instant sell-out. With support from Scotland’s Islands Fund, Scottish Power Renewables and Argyll & Bute Council, this year’s event has increased capacity. Once again, the festival features an array of music talents as well as interactive workshops, children’s ceilidhs, whisky tasting, BBQs and many other activities and events – all of which will take place on the grounds of An Talla, Tiree’s community hall.

Councillor and spokesman for Enterprise, Tourism, Energy & Culture in Argyll & Bute, Neil Mackay adds: “Once again we have a community that support and welcome visitors to an event that has quickly established itself as a Festival not to be missed. The small team that put this event together must be congratulated for once again providing an inspirational line up that manages to mix the whole spectrum of music, Scottish, Contemporary, Traditional and a touch of Rock in such a perfect manner that is so often elusive to the organisers of similar smaller and indeed larger events.
“The increased facilities will make the family friendly festival even more attractive than last year’s sensational event and I would certainly include the Tiree Music Festival as one of the main events on the Argyll & Isles Tourism Calendar”.

Weekend tickets for 2011’s Tiree Music Festival (TMF) cost £50 and are available from www.ticketsoup.com, by phone on 0844 395 4000 or in person at the SECC box office or from the Tiree Business Centre. For further information on TMF and ticket details, visit the official website: www.tireemusicfestival.co.uk